Electronic device

Abstract

An electronic device includes first and second body part; a third body part connecting the first and second body parts such that the first an second body parts are switched to an unfolded state or a folded state, a display unit disposed on one surface of each of the first and second body parts and provided such that a partial region thereof is foldable in the unfolded state and the folded state, an extending part extending in the unfolded state, a support part including first and second support regions supporting the display unit, and an elastic force providing unit providing an elastic force in different directions such that the unfolded state and the folded state are maintained.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An electronic device, comprising:
 a first body and a second body, wherein the first body comprises a first support region and a second support region, wherein the first support region includes ribs which cooperate with ribs of the second support region, wherein the first body and the second body are positionable between an unfolded state and a folded state, and wherein the first support region is positionable relative to the second support region in opposing first and second directions when in the unfolded state; 
 a connecting member connecting the first body with the second body, wherein the connecting member permits positioning of the first body and the second body between the unfolded state and the folded state; 
 a display located on a side of each of the first body and the second body, wherein the display comprises a first region, a second region, and a third region located between the first region and the second region; and 
 an elastic member providing an elastic force to maintain displacement of the first support region relative to the second support region in the unfolded state. 
 
     
     
       2. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 a first swivel arm and a second swivel arm located in a recess of the first body, wherein a first end of each of the first swivel arm and the second swivel arm are coupled to the first support region of the first body, 
 wherein the elastic member is coupled to a second end of each of the first swivel arm and the second swivel arm, and 
 wherein the first swivel arm and the second swivel arm rotatably move in mutually opposite directions when the first support region is positioned relative to the second support region in opposing first and second directions when in the unfolded state. 
 
     
     
       3. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the connecting member includes a hinge shaft extending in a direction, and 
 in the unfolded state, the elastic member provides a contracting elastic force in a direction parallel to the direction of the hinge shaft, and 
 in the folded state the elastic member provides a force in a direction perpendicular to the hinge shaft direction. 
 
     
     
       4. The electronic device of  claim 3 , wherein
 the first body includes a cover moving to open and close the recess by an elastic force when switching to the folded state or the unfolded state, and moving the first swivel arm and the second swivel arm. 
 
     
     
       5. The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the recess is formed in a region overlapping the display. 
 
     
     
       6. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the connecting member is a hinge shaft, 
 the first support region is coupled to the hinge shaft, 
 the ribs of the first support region extend in a direction away from the hinge shaft, and spaces are formed between the ribs of the first support region. 
 
     
     
       7. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first support region is sized to receive the second support region when in the folded state. 
 
     
     
       8. The electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein
 the first support region includes the elastic member within a defined space. 
 
     
     
       9. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first support region, the second support region, and the second body include a bezel region, and 
 the ribs the first support region, the ribs of the second support region, and the elastic member, overlap with the display. 
 
     
     
       10. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to: 
 cause the display to display first screen information on the first region of the display that corresponds the first body, when in the folded state; 
 cause the display to display second screen information different from the first screen information on the second region of the display that corresponds to the second body, after switching from the folded state to the unfolded state; and 
 cause the display to display a portion of the first screen information on the third region of the display, after switching from the folded state to the unfolded state. 
 
     
     
       11. The electronic device of  claim 10 , wherein
 the first screen information and the second screen information include a plurality of icons respectively corresponding to a plurality of applications. 
 
     
     
       12. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to:
 cause the display to display a first execution screen of a specific application on the first region of the display that corresponds the first body, when in the folded state; 
 
 cause the display to display a second execution screen of the application on the second region of the display that corresponds to the second body, after switching from the folded state to the unfolded state; and 
 cause the display to display an image that relates to the first execution screen on the third region of the display, after switching from the folded state to the unfolded state. 
 
     
     
       13. The electronic device of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to: 
 change the first execution screen displayed on the first region of the display in response to a touch received at the second region. 
 
     
     
       14. The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller configured to: 
 cause the display to display a plurality of execution screens of different applications on the first region and the second region, and display an image including a specific icon on the third region, when in the folded state. 
 
     
     
       15. The electronic device of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the controller is further configured to: 
 cause the display to magnify or reduce one of the plurality of execution screens based on a drag touch input applied to the first region, the second region, and the third region of the display. 
 
     
     
       16. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member is coupled to the first support region and the second support region. 
     
     
       17. The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein
 in the folded state, the first region of the display faces a first direction, the second region of the display faces a second direction that is opposite that of the first direction, and 
 in the unfolded state, the first region of the display, the second region of the display, and the third region of the display, all face the first direction.